3 people fall to their deaths while rock climbing in Washington state

Three radical fell to their deaths Sunday portion stone climbing successful Washington state, apt due to the fact that of an instrumentality failure, authorities said. A 4th climber successful their radical survived the ordeal.

The climbers were descending a steep gully successful the bluish conception of Early Winter Spire, a brace of stone formations successful the Cascades immoderate 150 miles eastbound of Seattle, the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office said successful a statement. 

What caused the deadly autumn astatine the fashionable climbing spot is inactive nether investigation, but the sheriff said it appears the climbers' anchors failed arsenic they were rappelling down the stone face. Rappelling is simply a method climbers usage to hoist themselves down a vertical drop, with a enactment and belay. 

Okanogan County sheriff's deputies were among the hunt and rescue crews who responded to the climbing mishap astatine astir 11:30 a.m. section clip connected Sunday, aft the surviving climber extricated himself from the ravine and contacted instrumentality enforcement. 

Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office unit and Okanogan County Search and Rescue volunteers responded to a climbing...

Posted by Okanogan County Sheriff Office on Monday, May 12, 2025

The others were pronounced dormant astatine the tract of their fall.  Their bodies were recovered by a chopper rescue squad from adjacent Snohomish County. 

The helicopter's formation done 16 miles of rugged, mountainous terrain took longer than accustomed — astir an hr — due to the fact that of harsh weather, CBS affiliate KIRO reported. Video of the aerial betterment shared by KIRO showed the chopper navigating blustery winds and fog arsenic it made its mode toward the climbers.

Authorities person not identified immoderate of the climbers by name. The sheriff successful Okanogan County said the 3 who died were 36, 47 and 63 years old, citing accusation from the coroner's office. They were primitively from Renton, Washington.

"Our thoughts are with the household members and friends of those involved," the sheriff's bureau said.

In:
• Washington